Date/Time
Date(s) - 11/10/2022
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Art in Bloom Gallery
Categories
Melissa Wilgis “Mushroom Coral” Cyanotype on paper
“Collaborating with Nature: Fiber Art with Rebecca Yeomans” Exhibit and
“Art Made with Light: Photograms by Melissa Wilgis” Exhibit
November 10, 2022 – January 8, 2023
Opening Reception: Thursday, November 10, 5-8pm
Art in Bloom Gallery presents two brand new exhibits, opening on November 10th, by 2 very different artists. Fiber artist, Rebecca Yeomans and photographer, Melissa Wilgis both work with found objects in their respective work. Both of these artists reside in Wilmington and Hampstead, N.C. These exhibits will be on view in the gallery from November 10, 2022, until January 8, 2023, at our gallery in Mayfaire Town Center.
“Collaborating with Nature” investigates the intricate fiber art pieces created by Rebecca Yeomans. Rebecca’s current work combines botanical printing, knitting, and stitching with a painterly feel.
“Art Made with Light” is a new collection of cyanotypes by photographer, Melissa Wilgis. Melissa is a fine art photographer specializing in photograms. Her cyanotypes on silver gelatin are a three-step process that requires thoughtful planning and time spent both in a traditional darkroom and outside under the sun. For this body of work, sea whips gathered from local beaches are combined with seashell x-rays and other collected items to create images that are eye-catching and unique.
Join us in the gallery on Thursday, November 10th from 5-8pm for a very special Opening Reception to celebrate the work of these 2 unique artists! Enjoy conversations and refreshments during this event. Gallery events are always free and open to the public. On view along with these exhibits, Art in Bloom Gallery, showcases the work of over local 30 artists.
Rebecca Yeomans “Catalpa Jam” Fiber art with Eco printing and stitching, 26.5″H x 39.5″W
Established in 2015, the gallery presents an eclectic mix of original, traditional, and contemporary works of art and represents over 30 artists. Art in Bloom Gallery has now moved to our new location in Mayfaire Town Center and is open 7 days a week. Gallery Hours are Monday – Saturday 10am-7pm and Sunday 12-6pm.
About the Artists
Rebecca Yeomans has lived her entire life centered around making. She learned to knit at eight years old and was considered the “class artist” in school. She studied studio art at UNC-Chapel Hill, receiving a BFA in 1974. After earning an MFA from Auburn University in 1979 she taught there for several years. Rebecca and her husband Tom moved to Wilmington, NC in 1984 and she worked as a scenic artist in the film industry. She was a founding board member for DREAMS of Wilmington and later taught classes. Her fiber jewelry can be seen at the CAM gift shop. After she and Tom raised two artsy daughters, Rebecca quickly moved into full time artist mode. Her current work combines botanical printing, knitting, and stitching with a painterly feel.
Melissa Wilgis is a fine art photographer specializing in photograms. “I initially began making photograms using what I refer to as my “critters”; seahorses, crabs, butterflies, dragonflies, sea whips, wildflowers and other found curiosities. My husband works in marine biology and helps me gather specimens. No animals are ever harmed—they’re gathered after they’ve passed. One day my husband came home with a deceased baby stingray. He had been out in the field and noticed some fishermen getting ready to toss it back. He asked if he could have the ray and they agreed. So, the joke now is that it’s all fine and good if your husband brings you flowers. But it’s exciting if he brings you a dead baby stingray. Eventually, I knew I needed to expand my photogram creations beyond critters. I’m a thrift store junky and made it a priority to search out photogrammable objects at the charity shops. I’m drawn to antique garments, lace, and glass baubles. My photogram compositions are simple. This simplicity allows the viewer to find their own story, be it politics, feminism, gender, sexuality, body-image, materialism, culture, economy, history, family or simply nostalgia. To me, they’re first and foremost, a reminder to always try to see things in a different light.”